CMR cell site

• US 4,899,500 A
• Filed: 12/21/1987
• Issued: 02/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTE Mobilnet Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Mobilnet Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, William J., Miller, Harmon R., Stanley, Hollie M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIDGILL JR, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/135,855
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 280/411 A, 52/146, 52/148, 52/28, 52/726, 52/151, 52/263, 296/27
• US Class Current: 52/146
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/10 Truss-like structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/20 Side-supporting means therefor, e.g. using guy ropes or struts
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial

Abstract

A CMR (Cellular Mobile Radiotelephone) Cell Site includes a foundation for a CMR equipment edifice. The foundation, together with the edifice, rests on a leveled surface. An antenna tower is mounted on the roof of the edifice and is secured by an antenna mounting brace embedded in the roof of the edifice. The antenna is guyed at three elevations along the antenna'"'"'s height to three points on the foundation. The edifice encloses a 10-inch-square, steel support column, positioned within the edifice directly beneath the antenna mounting brace, for supporting the antenna tower. Four-inch-thick slabs of concrete are inserted between the floor of the edifice and the support column and between the support column and the roof so as to isolate the interior of the building from electrical disturbances such as lightening.

Claims

1. A CMR cell site comprising:

a foundation that includes;

(a) a rectangular center structure that includes a front section, a rear section, a left section, and a right section,

(b) a left leg section attached to the rear section and extending substantially cellinearly therewith,

(c) a right leg section attached to the rear section and extending substantially cellinearly therewith,

(d) a left exterior crossmember section attached to the left leg section and to the left section,

(e) a right exterior crossmember section attached to the right leg section and to the right section, and

(f) a nose structure attached to and extending from the front section, said CMR cell site further comprising;

an edifice having a roof and a floor, said roof residing above said floor, and said edifice resting on the foundation, the edifice for housing CMR equipment and ancillary equipment;

a tower brace supported by the roof;

an antenna tower mounted on and supported by the roof and secured by the tower brace;

a support column extending between the roof and the floor of the edifice for providing structural support for the tower; and

a plurality of guy wires attached between the tower and the foundation for guying the tower to the foundation.

2. A CRM cell site as defined in claim 1, wherein the edifice includes a first slab of concrete positioned between the floor of the edifice and the support column and a second slab of concrete positioned between the support column and the roof of the edifice, said concrete slabs for insulating the CMR cell site from electrical disturbances.

3. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 1, wherein the tower brace includes a triangularly configured base plate having mounting bolts extending upwardly from the base plate at three vertices of the base plate.

4. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 1, further comprising first, second, and third adjustable-height mounting assemblies, said first mounting assembly being attached to the nose structure, said second mounting assembly being attached to the left leg section, and said third mounting assembly being attached to the right leg section, said adjustable-height mounting assemblies being for stabilizing the CMR Cell site in high-wind conditions.

5. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of the adjustable-height mounting assemblies comprises:

a coupling affixed to the foundation and including a threaded, tubular center portion with flanges extending in opposite directions from the center portion;

a lock bracket; and

a threaded rod threaded through the center portion of the coupling and inserted into the lock bracket.

6. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of guy wires includes a nose guy wire connected from said tower to the nose structure, a left guy wire connected from said tower to the left leg section, and a right guy wire connected from said tower to the right leg section.

7. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 6, wherein the antenna tower exhibits a predetermined height, said nose, left, and right guy wires attach to the tower at a first point along said height of said tower, and additional ones of said plurality of guy wires attach said tower to said foundation at second and third points along said height of said tower, said first, second and third points being spaced apart from one another.

8. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 1, further comprising first, second ,and third guy anchors disposed at first, second, and third, respectively, separate positions on the foundation, said guy anchors for securing said guy wires between the foundation and the antenna tower.

9. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 8, wherein said foundation has a center, and said first, second, and third guy anchors are respectively positioned on the nose structure, the left leg section, and the right leg section at positions on the nose structure, left leg section, and right leg section approximately farthest from said center of the foundation.

10. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 9, wherein each of the guy anchors is generally planar in form and exhibits an uppermost edge inclined in a direction toward the center of the foundation.

11. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 10, wherein each of the guy anchors exhibits a plurality of eyelets disposed along the uppermost edge for the accommodation of a portion of said guy wires for guying the antenna tower to the foundation.

12. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 1, wherein the nose structure comprises:

a nose member exhibiting predetermined length and being attached to and extending orthogonally from the front section;

a first crosspiece attached (i) to the front section proximate the left section and (ii) to the nose member at a position located at the approximate midpoint of the length of the nose member; and

a second crosspiece attached (i) to the front section proximate the right section and (ii) to the nose member at a position located at the approximate midpoint of the length of the nose member.

13. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 12, wherein the nose structure further comprises mounting brace means attached to a first one of said first and second crosspieces for facilitating the mounting of an antenna dish.

14. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 12, wherein the nose structure comprises a first mounting brace attached to the first crosspiece and a second mounting brace attached to the second crosspiece, for facilitating the mounting of antenna dishes.

15. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 12, wherein the edifice includes a first slab of concrete positioned between the floor of the edifice and the support column and a second slab of concrete positioned between the support column and the roof of the edifice, said concrete slabs for insulating the CMR cell site from electrical disturbances.

16. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 15, wherein the tower brace includes a triangularly configured base plate having mounting bolts extending upwardly from the base plate about three vertices of the base plate.

17. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 16, further comprising first, second, and third guy anchors disposed at first, second, and third, respectively, separate positions on the foundation, said guy anchors for securing said guy wires between the foundation and the antenna tower.

18. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 17, wherein said foundation has a center, and said first, second, and third guy anchors are respectively positioned on the nose member, the left leg section, and the right leg section at positions on the nose member, left leg section, and right leg section approximately farthest from said center of the foundation.

19. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 18, wherein each of the guy anchors is generally planar in form and exhibits an uppermost edge inclined in a direction toward the center of the foundation.

20. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 19, wherein each of the guy anchors exhibits a plurality of eyelets disposed along the uppermost edge for the accommodation of a portion of said guy wires for guying the antenna tower to the foundation.

21. A CMR cell site comprising:

(a) an edifice having a roof, a floor, a front wall and a rear wall, said walls coupling to said roof and said floor to space said roof above said floor, and the edifice for housing CMR equipment and ancillary equipment;

(b) a tower brace supported by the roof;

(c) an antenna tower mounted on and supported by the roof and secured by the tower brace;

(d) a support column extending between the roof and the floor of the edifice for providing structural support for the tower;

(e) a foundation disposed beneath the edifice for guying the antenna tower, the foundation including a number of linear sections, each of which is characterized by a generally I-shaped cross section and has an integrally formed horizontal top plate, horizontal bottom plate, and vertical center panel that is disposed between the top and bottom plates, the foundation comprising;

a front section;

a rear section having a left end and a right end;

a left section having a midpoint and being disposed at said left end of said rear section; and

a right section having a midpoint and being disposed at said right end of said rear section, said front, rear, left, and right sections arranged to form a generally rectangular perimeter;

a left leg section attached to the rear section;

a right leg section attached to the rear section;

a left exterior crossmember for attachment to the left leg section and to the left section about the left section midpoint;

a right exterior crossmember for attachment to the right leg section and to the right section about the right section midpoint; and

a nose structure attached to and extending from the front section; and

(f) a plurality of guy wires attached between the antenna tower and the foundation for guying the antenna tower to the foundation.

22. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 21, wherein the rear section comprises (i) a left bracket plate pair disposed at the left end of the rear section, said left bracket plate pair for accommodating the attachment of the left leg sections and (ii) a right bracket plate pair disposed at the right end of the rear section, said right bracket plate pair for accommodating the attachment of the right leg section.

23. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 22, wherein each of the bracket plate pairs comprises a top bracket plate and a bottom bracket plate and wherein the top bracket plate exhibits a plurality of mounting holes for alignment with a corresponding plurality of mounting holes exhibited by the top plate of a corresponding one of the leg sections and wherein the bottom bracket plate exhibits a plurality of mounting holes for alignment with a corresponding plurality of mounting holes exhibited by the bottom plate of a corresponding one of the leg sections.

24. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 23, wherein (i) the left leg section is pivotably attached to the left bracket plate pair by virtue of a mounting bolt inserted in and through innermost mounting holes of the top bracket plate of the left bracket plate pair and of the top plate of the left leg section and by virtue of a mounting bolt inserted in and through innermost mounting holes of the bottom bracket plate of the left bracket plate pair and of the bottom plate of the left leg section, and (ii) the right leg section is pivotably attached to the right bracket plate pair by virtue of a mounting bolt inserted in and through innermost mounting holes of the top bracket plate of the right bracket plate pair and of the top plate of the right leg section and by virtue of a mounting bolt inserted in and through innermost mounting holes of the bottom bracket plate of the right bracket plate pair and of the bottom plate of the right leg section.

25. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 21, wherein the edifice includes of a first section of concrete disposed between the floor of the edifice and the support column and a second section of concrete disposed between the roof of the edifice and the support column, said sections of concrete for insulating the CMR cell site from electrical disturbances.

26. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 25, wherein said plurality of guy wires includes a nose guy wire connected from said tower to the nose structure, a left guy wire connected from said tower to the left leg section, and a right guy wire connected from said tower to the right leg section.

27. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 26, wherein the CMR cell site further comprises at least three guy anchors, one disposed at each of the nose structure, the left leg section and the right leg section for securing guy wires between the foundation and the antenna tower.

28. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 27, wherein the antenna tower is approximately ninety feet in height and is guyed to the foundation by guy wires attached to the antenna tower at approximately the 25-foot, 65-foot and 85-foot levels along the height of the antenna tower.

29. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 28, wherein each of the guy anchors is generally planar in form and exhibits (i) an uppermost edge inclined in a direction toward the center of the foundation and (ii) a plurality of eyelets disposed along the inclined edge for the accommodation of the guy wires.

30. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 27, further comprising first, second, and third adjustable-height mounting assemblies, said first mounting assembly being attached to the nose structure, said second mounting assembly being attached to the left leg section, and said third mounting assembly being attached to the right leg section, said adjustable-height mounting assemblies being for stabilizing the CMR cell site in high-wind conditions.

31. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 30, wherein at least one of the adjustable-height mounting assemblies comprises:

a coupling affixed to the foundation and including a threaded, tubular center portion with flanges extending in opposite directions from the center portion;

a lock bracket; and

a threaded rod threaded through the center portion of the coupling and inserted into the lock bracket.

32. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 22, wherein the edifice includes a first section of concrete disposed between the floor of the edifice and the support column and a second section of concrete disposed between the roof of the edifice and the support column, said sections of concrete for insulating the CMR cell site from electrical disturbances.

33. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 32, wherein said plurality of guy wires includes a nose guy wire connected from said tower to the nose structure, a left guy wire connected from said tower to the left leg section, and a right guy wire connected from said tower to the right leg section.

34. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 33, wherein the CMR cell site further comprises at least three guy anchors, one disposed at each of the nose structure, the left leg section and the right leg section for securing guy wires between the foundation and the antenna tower.

35. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 34, wherein the antenna tower is approximately ninety feet in height and is guyed to the foundation by guy wires attached to the antenna tower at approximately the 35-foot, 65-foot levels along the height of the antenna tower.

36. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 35, wherein each of the guy anchors is generally planar in form and exhibits (i) an uppermost edge inclined in a direction toward the center of the foundation and (ii) a plurality of eyelets disposed along the inclined edge for the accommodation of the guy wires.

37. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 34, further comprising first, second, and third adjustable-height mounting assemblies, said first mounting assembly being attached to the nose structure, said second mounting assembly being attached to the left leg section, and said third mounting assembly being attached to the right leg section, said adjustable-height mounting assemblies being for stabilizing the CMR cell site in high-wind conditions.

38. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 37, wherein at least one of the adjustable-height mounting assemblies comprises:

a coupling affixed to the foundation and including a threaded, tubular center portion with flanges extending in opposite directions from the center portion;

a lock bracket; and

a threaded rod threaded through the center portion of the coupling and inserted into the lock bracket.

39. A CMR cell site that is transportable to and rapidly deployed at a site location, the CMR cell site comprising:

an edifice having a roof and a floor, said roof residing above said floor, and the edifice for housing CMR equipment and ancillary equipment and for supporting an antenna tower that is erected at the site location;

a foundation that includes;

(a) a rectangular center structure that comprises a front section, a rear section, a left section, and a right section, wherein the left and the right sections each exhibit an oblique panel extending outwardly at a position along the length of the respective left and right section and wherein the rear section comprises a left bracket plate pair disposed at a left end of the rear section and a right bracket plate pair disposed at a right end of the rear section, each of the bracket plate pairs comprising a top bracket plate and a bottom bracket plate and each of the top bracket plates and the bottom bracket plates exhibiting a plurality of mounting holes;

(b) a left leg section having a top plate and a bottom plate and attached to the left bracket plate pair by virtue of mounting bolts inserted in the mounting holes of the left bracket plate pair and in mounting holes in the top and the bottom plates of the left leg section, said left leg section exhibiting an oblique panel extending outwardly at a position along the length of the left leg section;

(c) a right leg section having a top plate and a bottom plate and attached to the right bracket plate pair by virtue of mounting bolts inserted in the mounting holes of the right bracket plate pair and in mounting holes in the top and the bottom plates of the right leg section, said right leg section exhibiting an oblique panel extending outwardly at a position along the length of the right leg section;

(d) a left exterior crossmember section having first and second tongue portions extending at opposite ends of the left exterior crossmember section, said left crossmember first tongue portion removably attached to the oblique panel of the left section and said left crossmember second tongue portion removably attached to the oblique panel of the left leg section;

(e) a right exterior crossmember section having first and second tongue portions extending at opposite ends of the right exterior crossmember section, said right crossmember first tongue portion removably attached to the oblique panel of the right section and said right crossmember second tongue portion removably attached to the oblique panel of the right leg section; and

(f) a nose structure attached to and extending from the front section;

SAID CMR CELL SITE FURTHER COMPRISING;

an antenna tower brace supported by the roof and having a base plate with at least three mounting bolts extending upwardly therefrom;

an antenna tower mounted on and supported by the roof and having a foundation plate with three apertures complementary to the three mounting bolts in the antenna tower brace base plate for securing the antenna tower;

a plurality of guy anchors, one each disposed at the nose structure, the left leg section, and the right leg section;

a plurality of guy wires attached between the antenna tower and the guy anchors for guying the tower to the foundation; and

a support member interior to the edifice and extending between the roof and the floor of the edifice at a position beneath the antenna tower brace and the antenna tower for providing structural support for the tower and for providing isolation from electrical disturbances, the support member comprising (i) a column having a top and a bottom, (ii) a thickness of concrete between the bottom of the column and the floor, and (iii) a thickness of concrete between the top of the column and the roof.

40. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 39, further comprising first, second, and third adjustable-height mounting assemblies, said first mounting assembly being attached to the nose structure, said second mounting assembly being attached to the left leg section, and said third mounting assembly being attached to the right leg section, said adjustable-height mounting assemblies being for stabilizing the CMR cell site in high-wind conditions, each of said mounting assemblies comprising:

a coupling affixed to the foundation and including a threaded, tubular center portion'"'"'

a lock bracket; and

a threaded rod threaded through the center portion of the coupling and inserted into the lock bracket.

41. A CMR cell site as defined in claim 40, further comprising a plurality of eyelets disposed at predetermined locations on the foundation for coupling the foundation to a lifting mechanism.

42. A tower apparatus comprising:

a truss assembly having a central section and at least three projecting sections extending outward from said central section, said truss assembly residing in a substantially horizontal orientation;

an enclosure disposed over said central section of said truss assembly so that said at least three projecting sections of said truss extend horizontally outward from under said enclosure;

an antenna tower disposed over said enclosure and extending in a substantially vertical orientation for a predetermined distance above said truss; and

a plurality of guy wires attached between said antenna tower and said at least three projecting sections of said truss assembly for guying said antenna tower to said truss assembly.

43. A tower apparatus as claimed in claim 42 additionally comprising a support column residing in a substantially vertical orientation within said enclosure, said support column providing structural support for said antenna tower.

44. A tower apparatus as claimed in claim 42 wherein said at least three projecting sections are configured to provide a guying radius which is less than sixty percent of said predetermined distance.